On Thursday, the special MP/MLA Court postponed the hearing in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to April 3 due to an ongoing lawyers' strike. 

Advocate Kashi Prasad Shukla, representing the Rae Bareli MP, confirmed that no legal proceedings could take place because of the strike. 

"The hearing was scheduled for today, but with lawyers on strike, proceedings could not be conducted. The court has now fixed the next hearing for April 3," he stated. 

The defamation case, filed in 2018 by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra, pertains to alleged derogatory remarks made by Gandhi during the Karnataka elections. 

After nearly five years of legal proceedings, the court issued a warrant against Gandhi in December 2023. He later surrendered in court in February 2024 and was granted bail on two sureties of ₹25,000 each. 

On July 26, Gandhi recorded his statement, pleading not guilty and asserting that the case was politically motivated. 

Earlier this year, multiple hearings were postponed due to lawyers' strikes and the ill health of Gandhi’s counsel. 

On February 11, Shukla concluded the cross-examination of the complainant.